As we shape up for the final Group One race of the season, the Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm, I'm already looking towards the Spring Carnival with eager anticipation. 

As we all know, one stable that always fires up is that of ‘Cups King' Bart Cummings.

Even at this early stage, Cummings has an extremely impressive list of contenders. Last year's Cox Plate winner, So You Think, has been back in training for nearly three weeks and has benefited from time in the paddock after having missed a majority of the autumn.

Last spring, So You Think required just three runs into the Cox Plate but Duncan Ramage, racing manager for part-owner Dato Tan Chin Nam, feels the four-year-old may need four runs this year before tackling again the weight-for-age championship. 

Another horse the Cummings stable is keen on for the spring is rising three-year-old Kudakulari. The son of Savabeel only has raced four times but the style of his victory in the Fernhill Stakes was most encouraging.

Kudakulari's first aim of the spring assault is the Golden Rose at Rosehill but Cummings is hoping to emulate the feat of God's Own and target the Caulfield Guineas after that.

And the third of Cummings' big hopes, rising four-year-old, Faint Perfume, has been back at Saintly Lodge at Flemington for nearly two weeks. It's no surprise to learn that she'll be aimed at the Caulfield and Melbourne Cups. (That's Bart, pictured, with jockey Michael Rodd and Ann Peacock after Faint Perfume won the Crown Oaks at Flemington last November.)

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THE DARWIN Cup carnival will warm up quickly during the next few weeks and already Victorian trainer, Neil Dyer, has set up base at Fannie Bay racecourse.

Dyer's main gun this year again will be Hawks Bay which won the NT Guineas and NT Derby last year before running second in the Darwin Cup. Hawks Bay starts his preparation on Saturday and, according to Dyer, is in fantastic order.

Palmyra Boy only has finished out of the placings once in Darwin while Test The Scene is coming off some good form at Alice Springs. Dyer learnt so much from his trip to Darwin last year and is hoping to enjoy further success in the warm weather climate at the Top End.

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NOW TO the Group One Winter Stakes at Eagle Farm on Saturday. Melito continues to thrive and well and truly deserves a big-time win before spelling.

Trainer Gerald Ryan told me Melito hasn't improved but she certainly hasn't gone backwards either. After a strong gallop at the Gold Coast on Tuesday, Melito bounced off the track showing no detrimental signs from her strenuous campaign.

Another trainer, Rob Heathcote, is enjoying a lucrative run at the moment and, while Acquired will be rated as an outsider in the Winter Stakes, don't rule her out of getting into the money.

Heathcote was rapt with the way Acquired fought back behind Set for Fame last start and has trained on well. Acquired is owned by the same group that chased success last week at Royal Ascot with Gold Trail. They're hoping Acquired can grab some much needed prizemoney.

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AND FINALLY, Kiwi trainer, Roger James, will launch a dual attack on the Centenary Classic at Eagle Farm on Saturday.

La Etoile will appreciate any sting out of the track on Saturday and will relish having just 53 kilos on his back.

As for stable-mate Firebolt, he's received a steward's clearance to run after missing the start badly a fortnight ago. James said Firebolt had never done that before and is hoping to match the effort of Dariana in winning the Queensland Derby a week after having been stranded in the barrier stalls of the Oaks.

Andrew Bensley is a leading commentator with Sky Racing.